FG playing politics with nation’s education â€”DELSU ASUU

By Festus Ahon
UGHELLIâ€”Delta State University Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) has warned against misinforming the public on issues that led to the on-going strike, saying the Federal Government was playing politics with the future of the nationâ€™s tertiary institutions.
The chapter Chairman of the Union, Prof. Patrick Mubuoghare, told journalists that ASUU was making just one demand and that was â€œimplement agreement reached six months ago between ASUU and Federal Governmentâ€.

Prof. Mubuoghare stated that ASUU and the Federal Government have been on negotiating table for two and half years, saying that during the period, both parties presented their positions on issues at stake.He said about six months ago, the Federal Government set up a team, led by renowned economist, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, to negotiate with ASUU, where an agreement was reached.

Prof. Mubuoghare noted that it was unfair for the Federal Government to fail to implement that agreement reached, but rather embarked on blackmail.

He said what ASUU was asking for was better funding of the universities, university autonomy as well as academic freedom.

On the issue of salary, the DELSU ASUU Chairman, disclosed that what the union asked for in the said agreement was for a professor in the university to be paid in a year, a month take home pay of a senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Prof. Mubuoghare noted that ASUU had to take this decision once and for all, for the interest of the students, their parents, the lectures and the future of the nationâ€™s public universities.

He said the kind of teaching and learning in Nigeria universities across the country was worrisome as a result of the dearth of teaching facilities.Prof. Muoboghare stated that the recent rating of Nigeria across the globe should be a concern to all and seek ways to correct the wrongs of the past.

He said it was sad to observe Nigerian investors going to invest in Ghana and South Africa to the detriment of Nigerians.The DELSU ASUU Chairman warned against revolution and anarchy in the country.